Dr. Diane Duffin
Department of Political Science, 308-865-8758 OR duffind@unk.edu
The Canteen Spirit will be shown at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in Copeland Hall Room 142.
The UNK Community for Active Citizenship is sponsoring the screening, which is free and open to the public. The Community for Active Citizenship is a UNK residential learning community of political science students built around the idea that ordinary citizens can make a difference.
The Canteen Spirit chronicles the story of the World War II North Platte Canteen, which made history when residents of 125 communities from across Nebraska greeted more than six million soldiers over a five-year period as their trains made a 10-minute stop at the North Platte Depot.
“People who think civic engagement is important, and want to see it in action, should attend this film,” said Dr. Diane Duffin, associate professor of political science. “Also, those who are interested in history, especially Nebraska history, and in television production and journalism should find this film appealing.” Canteen workers provided sandwiches, cakes, cookies, hard-boiled eggs, doughnuts, beverages, cigarettes, magazines and more, never running out of provisions during the years of its operation.
A panel discussion with the film’s producer, writer and director, Annie Mumgaard, and several of the original North Platte Canteen volunteers will follow the screening. Mumgaard is a producer and director at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications and is a feature producer for NETV’s award-winning program Statewide.
